Hanger having locking and sealing means



Nov. 22, 1966 R. L. CRAIN ETAL HANGER HAVING LOCKING AND SEALING MEANS 8Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 9, 1963 FIGJ.

INVENTO S ROBERT L.CRAIN BY ELWOOD K. PIERCEJR HTTOR/V XS Nov. 22, 1966R. L. CRAIN ETAL Filed Jan. 9, 1963 FIGS.

I2 lea/i g E x A I j 34b A I k 92 as as 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 AOS INVENTORSROBER T L. CRAIN ELWOOD K. PIERCE,JR.

ATTORNEY S 1966 R. L- CRAIN ETAL HANGER HAVING LOCKING AND SEALING MEANS8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 9, 1963 INVENTORS 1966 R. L. CRAIN ETALHANGER HAVING LOCKING AND SEALING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 9,1963 INVENTORS ROBERT L. CRAI N ELWOOD K. Pl EROE,JR.

1966 R. CRAIN ETAL 3,287,030

HANGER HAVING LOCKING AND SEALING MEANS Filed Jan. 9, 1963 8Sheets-Sheet 6 I38 mam-ml n F INVENTORS OBERT L. CRAIN 60 R F] .12ELWOOD K.P|ERCE,JR. G BYKM Z7 5 ATTORNEYS Nov. 22, 1966 R. 1.. GRAINETAL 3,

HANGER HAVING LOCKING AND SEALING MEANS Filed Jan. 9, 1963 8Sheets-Sheet 7 -lsB 246 I37 INVENTQRS ROBERT L. CRAIN 288 ELWOOD K.PIERCE-JR ATTORNEYS Nov. 22, 1966 R. L. CRAIN' ETAL 3,287,030

HANGER HAVING LOCKING AND SEALING MEANS Filed Jan. 9, 1965 8Sheets-Sheet 8 n 52 I52 m In no 32o a I I90 /l[\ L I38 I34) I38 STAGEISFIG. 15. 28B

504 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,287,030 PatentedNov. 22, 1966 3,287,030 HANGER HAVING LOCKING AND SEALING MEANS RobertL. Crain and Elwood K. Pierce, Jr., Houston,

Tex., assignors to Gray Tool Company, Houston, Tex.,

a corporation of Texas Filed Jan. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 250,262 6 Claims.(Cl. 285-18) This invention relates to methods and apparatus fordrilling and completing oil and gas wells and in particular to thehanging of casing and tubing strings and the installation of controlequipment, casing heads and tubing heads during the construction ofsnbmertged wells.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a novelhanger for a casing string or a tubing string and a novel setting toolwhich in combination with the hanger permits rapid and effective landingof the string, locking and sealing of the hanger to the bowl of itscasing or tubing head and release of the tool from the hanger.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hanger and toolassembly of the above type in which the tool subassembly is releasablyconnectable to the hanger subassembly and is adapted to coact therewithto land the hanger, to lock the hanger in the bowl of its head and tothen disconnect itself from the hanger.

It is a further object to provide a hanger and tool assembly f the abovetype in which the hanger subassembly retains on its periphery aplurality of laterally movable latching elements and means for movingthe elements outwardly into a recess in the lbOWl of a casing head ortubing head, the moving means being actuable by rotation of the toolsubassembly.

It is yet another object to provide a hanger and tool assembly of theabove type in which the tool subassembly includes a body member and asleeve member which is rotatable by the body member and longitudinallymovable with respect thereto and wherein the sleeve threadedly engagesthe hanger subassembly and is releasable therefrom by rotation of thetool assembly.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from readingthe following brief and detailed descriptions taken with the drawings inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a simplified elevational view, partly in section, of a tooland hanger assembly embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional View on the line 22 of FIG- URE 1 illustratingthe manner in which the sleeve portion of the tool subassemblycooperates with the body portion of the tool assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of the upperportion of a practical form of the tool and hanger assembly of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the lower portion of thedevice of FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are views similar to FIGURES 3 and 4 showing the hangersubassernbly locked to its seat and the tool subassembly disconnectedfrom the hanger subassembly;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially in section, of ahydraulic guide system embodying the principles of the present inventionand showing the frame carrying member about to engage an upstandingpost;

FIGURE 8 is a View of the apparatus of FIGURE 7 with the elements inengagement;

FIGURES 9 and 10 are views similar to FIGURES 7 and 8 of a modificationof the hydraulic guide system of those figures; and

FIGURES 11-16 are elevational views illustrating some of the stages inthe construction and completion of a submerged well using the equipmentillustrated in FIG- URES 1-8.

A tool and hanger assembly embodying the principles of the presentinvention is shown in simplified form in FIGURES 1 and 2 wherein, forthe purposes of simplicity of illustration, some details have beenomitted and the proportions have been modified so as to show an entireassembly in a single view. Detailed views of an actual assembly areshown in FIGURES 36.

The simplified tool and hanger assembly 10 of FIGURE 1 includes a toolsubassembly 12 and a hanger subassembly 14 which are threadedlyinterconnected by left hand threads 16. The upper and lower ends of theassembly 10 are interiorly threaded at 18 and 20, respectively, so as tobe connectable to the lower end of a drill pipe or the like at 18 and tothe upper end of a casing string at 20.

The primary elements of the tool subassembly 12 are a hollow cylindricalbody 22 and an inner concentric sleeve 24 which extends out of the lowerend of the body 22 and which is provided intermediate its ends withexterior circumferential threads forming part of the connection 16. Thesleeve 24 is keyed near its upper end to the inner circumference of thebody 22 so as to be rotatable with the body 22 and at the same time beaxially movable relative to the body 22. As shown, a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced radial keys 26 are secured to the outercircumference of the sleeve 24 above the connection 16 and complementarykeyways 28 are provided in the inner circumference of the Ibody 22.Axial movement of the sleeve 24 in a downward movement relative to thebody 22 is limited by engagement of an inwardly extending shoulder 30 onthe body 22 with a complementary shoulder 32 on the sleeve 24 near itsupper end.

As shown, the body 22 of the tool subassembly 12 is constructed of twoprimary portions 34 and 36 which are threadedly interconnected at 38.The outer circumference of the upper portion 34 is provided with aplurality of radial keys 40 which fit int-o complementary keyways 42 inthe inner circumference of the lower portion 36. The lower end ofportion 36 is provided with a plurality of axially extending spacedteeth 44 which intermes-h with complementary teeth 46 on the upper endof the hanger subassembly 14.

The hanger subassembly includes, as primary elements, a cylindricalhanger body 48 adapted to seat in the bowl of a casing head an outerconcentric sleeve 50 threaded thereto with right hand threads 52 and anouter ring 54 longitudinally slidable on the hanger body 48 below thehanger sleeve 50. The exterior of the hanger body 48 is provided with aninwardly and downwardly tapered seat portion 56 which, as shown in theembodiment described, includes a plurality of circumferentia'lly spaced,radial flutes 58. According to the. invention the hanger body 48 carriesa plurality of latching balls 60 on its periphery. In the embodimentdescribed the balls 60 reside in an annulus 62 which is formed by theupper portions of the flutes 58 and are movable through lateral channels64.

Briefly, the operation of the tool and hanger assembly 10 in landing astring of casing is as follows. The assembly 10 is threaded at 20 ontothe upper end of the last section of the string of casing which is to belanded in a casing head. The upper end of the assembly is threaded at 18onto the lower end of a drill pipe. By means of a derrick the drill pipeis lowered so as to lower the casing string in the well to a point atwhich the seat 56 on the hanger subassembly 14 rests in the bowl of itscasing head. The drill pipe is then rotated clockwise as viewed from thetop. The body 22 of the tool subassembly 12 rotates with the drill pipeand effects rotation of the tool sleeve 24 through key and keyway 26, 28and of the hanger sleeve 50 through the intermeshing teeth 44, 46.

Since the threads at 16 are left hand and at 52 are right hand, theclockwise rotation of the tool sleeve 24 and the hanger sleeve 50 tendsto move the former upwardly and the latter downwardly with respect tothe hanger body 48. Downward movement of the hanger sleeve 50 forces thering 54 downwardly into the annulus 62 thus forcing the balls 60outwardly into an annular groove in the easing head (not shown).Rotation of the elements also causes the tool sleeve 24 to disengage thehanger body 48 along the threads 16, the number of turns to accomplishthis or the locking of the balls depending on the number of threads at16 and 52. The entire tool subassembly 12 may then be removed by raisingthe drill pipe while the hanger subassembly 14 remains locked in thecasing head.

Referring to FIGURES 3-6 there is shown therein a detailed practicalconstruction for the simplified tool and hanger assembly 10 of FIGURES 1and 2. Like numerals in FIGURES .3- and in later figures are used todesignate the same or corresponding elements which are shown in FIGURESl and 2. The subassernblies 12 and 14 in FIG- URES 3 and 4 are shown inthe same relative position as those in FIGURE 1. In FIGURES 5 and 6 thetool subassembly 12 has been rotated in a right handdirection to set theballs 60 and to disconnect the threads 16 between the subassemblies 12and 14.

As shown in FIGURE 3 the cylindrical body of the tool subassembly 12 maybe constructed of several pieces threadedly connected at their ends. Inthe construction illustrated the upper portion 34 of the body' consistsof two coaxial parts 34a and 34b which are threadedly interconnected.The part 34 is of somewhat larger diameter so that the inner concentricsleeve 24 may move upwardly without obstruction. The upper end of thepart 34a is provided with the internal threads 18 by which the entireassembly may be connected to the lower end of a drill pipe or the like.The lower end of the part 3412, is provided with the inner annularshoulder 30 having the vertical keyways 28 therein. The vertical keys 40extending outwardly from the lower end of part 34b are set into slots 66and are welded in place as at 68. A pair of vertical'ly spaced annularseals 70 is provided above the shoulczljr 30 for sealing with the upperperiphery of the sleeve The sleeve 24 is provided with vertical slotsbelow the shoulder 32 into which the outwardly extending keys 26 arewelded as at 72. The lower portion 24a of the sleeve (FIGURE 4)terminates in a depending annular seating portion having an outersurface 74 whcih is tapered downwardly and inwardly and a verticalsurface 76 each of which is provided with an annular sealing element 78.

Above the seating portion the sleeve portion 24a is provided with anouter ring 80 which is vertically movable between the upper extremity ofthe threads 16 and a fixed collar 82. The outer surface of the ring 80intermediate its ends is provided with two spaced annular sealingelements 84 which are engageable with the hanger body .8 and the sleeveportion is provided with two spaced sealmg elements 86 which areengageable with the ring 80. A relatively large annular sealing element88 such as a molded rubber element is secured to the upper periphery ofthe ring and extends outwardly therefrom for engagement with the top ofthe hanger body 48 in the FIGURE 3 position of the sleeve 24.

The lower portion 36 of the tool subassembly 12 is threaded to theexterior of the part 345 at 38 immediately below two fixed collars 90,92 and extends downwardly to terminate in the axially extending teeth44. The inner vertical keyways 42 cooperating with the keys 40 on thetool body 34 are provided immediately below the threads 38, and belowthe keyways 42 are a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radialcirculating ports 94.

The hanger body 48, as seen in FIGURE 4, consists of three basic partswhich have been secured together. Above the threads 20, by which acasing string may be attached, the annular, radially extending seatportion 56 is threaded onto the body proper 48 and welded as at 96. Theseat portion is a ring-like element having the radially extending spacedflutes 58 formed integrally therewith and tapered downwardly andinwardly to form a seating surface engageable with a complementarytapered seat 98 on the interior of a structure 100, such as a casinghead, from which the hanger is to be suspended. To the top of the seatportion 56 is welded as at 102 an upstanding flange 104 which is spacedfrom the body 48 to form the ballretaining annulus 62. The balls 60, asdescribed above,

are movable through the lateral passages 64 into a circumferentialrecess 106 in the suspending structure 100.

The hanger sleeve which is threaded to the hanger body at 52 terminatesat its lower end in'a small inwardly extending flange 188 which slidablyengages under a flanged ring 110. The ring 110 is welded to the top ofanother ring element 112 which in turn is threaded over a ball-settingmember 114 having depending annular portion 116 which is insertable intothe ball-retaining annulus 62. The elements 110, 112 and 114 correspondto the element 54 in FIGURE 1 and are vertically slidable as a unit onthe outside of the hanger body 48, seals 118 and 120 being providedtherebetween to prevent leakage.

The exterior of the element 112 is provided with annular seals 122 forengagement with the suspending structure 100 and the element 116 isprovided with a test port 124.. The hanger and tool assembly 10 is alsoprovided with.

a fixed inner guide sleeve 126 secured near its upper end to the toolbody 34 and extending downwardly to below the upper end of the movabletool sleeve 24. Circulationf Referring now to FIGURES 7 and 8 there isshown.

therein an embodiment of a hydraulic guide apparatus for accuratelycontrolling the movement of well head equipment when in close proximityto the well head. The apparatus comprises basically two subassemblies: aguide base 130 which is fixed and a telescoping section 132 whichcarries the equipment and which is movable with respect to the first.

As shown, the fixed guide base 130 includes a generally triangular, flatsupport plate 134 (see also FIGURES 11-15) having a central aperturetherethrough in which is secured a sleeve member 136 which may be ashort length of large diameter casing. Three vertical radially extendingreinforcing plates 137 are secured as by welding to the sleeve 136 andto the lower surface of the support plate 134. An upstanding,cylindrical guide post 138 is fixed to the support plate 134 neareachapex there of. As shown, each guide post 138 includes a hollowcylindrical portion l40 having external stop members 142 at the basethereof which are tapered downwardly and outwardly. The top of thecylinder is closed with a threaded plug 144 which is tapered upwardlyand inwardly at its upper end 148. An upstanding pin is threaded axiallyinto the top of the plug 144 and is secured to a guide cable 152 whichextends to the surface of the water when the guide base 130 is in itsoperative position.

The movable, telescoping section 132 includes three cylinders 154 eachof which has a flared lower end 156 adapted to seat on the stop members142. Within each cylinder 154 is a piston 158 having an axial boretherethrough which is contoured at its lower end to seat on the taperedupper end 148 of the associated guide post 138. A tubular piston rod 160through which the guide cable 152 passes is secured to the upper end ofthe piston 158 and extends upwardly through a cap 162 which closes theupper end of the cylinder 154. Downward movement of piston 158 withinthe cylinder 154'is limited by an annular stop'164. Suitable seals 166are provided between the piston and cylinder and between the piston rodand cap.

The cylinder 154 is provided with a fitting 168 which is suitably tappedfor receiving a hydraulic pressure lin 170 (FIGURE 12).

In order to support equipment which is to be carried by the guide systemthree horizontal crossheads 172 are associated with the cylinders 154.As seen in FIGURE 8 a wide annular groove is formed near the top of eachcylinder 154 between the cap 162 and a flange 174. A split sleeve 176having its halves secured together by a vertical pin 178 resides in thegroove and is secured to one end of a crosshead 172 by a pin arrangementindicated at 180. The other end of the crosshead is pinned to one of theother cylinders 154 in a like manner. Intermediate its ends eachcrosshead 172 is provided with a pin arrangement 184 which cooperateswith a complementary structure secured to the equipment 188 which isthereby supported by the crossheads 172. A set of lower crossheads 190similar to the crossheads 172 is secured to the cylinders 154 by pinarrangements 192 and to the equipment by pin arrangements 186. The splitsleeve portions of these lower crossheads 190 are vertically adjustableon the cylinders 154.

If necessary or desired, an auxiliary guide section 202 may be providedin the form of relatively hollow posts 201 the bores of which aretapered at their lower ends 204 to mate with the caps 162 of thecylinders 154. The upper ends 206 (FIGURE .14) of the posts are taperedupwardly and inwardly so as to receive another similar post if desired.Each set of posts 202 is provided with crossheads 208 which, like thecrossheads 190, are vertically adjustable.

Referring to FIGURES 9 and 10 there is shown a modified hydraulic guidesystem in which the piston is incorporated into the fixed guide base130' rather than into the telescoping section 132' as in the previouslydescribed embodiment. As shown the triangular support plate 134, thesleeve 136, and the reinforcing plates 137 are identical with thosealready described. Fixed to the plate 134 near each apex is anupstanding cylinder 210 having its upper end closed with a fixed piston212 and having downwardly and outwardly tapered stops 214 at its lowerend. A hydraulic pressure line 216 passes through the wall of the fixedcylinder 210 and connects with an eccentric vertical passage 218 in thepiston 212.

Vertically slidable over the piston 212 and fixed cylinder 210 is amovable cylinder 220 which has an outwardly flared lower end 222 adaptedto seat on the stops 214. A fixed, axial piston rod 224 is secured atits lower end to the top of the piston and extends upwardly through themovable cylinder 220 where it terminates in a knob 226 which serves as astop to limit upward movement of the cylinder 220. A guide cable 152 issecured to the knob 226 and extends upwardly to the surface. The upperend 228 of the cylinder 220 is tapered inwardly and upwardly to form aseat for the equipment-carrying portion of the guide system. Leakageinto or out of the chamber defined by the piston 212 and the cylinder220 is prevented by seals 230 in the periphery of the piston and a seal232 in the top of the cylinder 220.

The equipment-supporting portion of the guide system of FIGURES 9 and 10consists basically of three hollow posts which carry crossheads andwhich are adapted to seat on the upper end of the cylinders 220. Asshown, each post is constructed of an inner and an outer con centrictube, 234 and 236 respectively. The upper end of the inner tube 234passes through an upwardly and inwardly tapered cap 238 which is securedto the outer tube 236 and which provides a seat for additionalsupporting structure (not shown) identical to parts 202, 204, 206 and208 in FIGURES 7 and 8. The lower end of the inner tube 234 is connectedto a plug 240 which has a bore 242 of sulficient diameter to receive thepiston rod 224.

Each outer tube 236 is connected to equipment-supporting crossheads 172and 190 in the same manner as the cylinder 154. The actual connectionsbetween the tube 236 and the crosshead sleeves are illustratedschematically in FIGURES 9 and 10.

Specific example of use and operation 0 the apparatus FIGURES 11-16illustrate the use and operation of the above-described equipment in theconstruction and completion of a submerged oil well. In the particularprocedure illustrated the well is drilled through a large diameterconductor pipe 246, for example a 20 inch O.D. pipe, which is driveninto a submerged bottom 248 from a floating or fixed platform at thesurface. First, the guide base of FIGURES 7 and 8 with its guide lines152 attached is supported at about platform level which is illustratedat 250 in the drawings. The first section of conductor casing 246 with aconventional drive shoe (not shown) secured to its lower end is thenlowered through the sleeve 136 of the guide base 130 and additionalsections of conductor casing are joined in sequence, as by welding, tocomplete the conductor pipe 246. When the shoe reaches the bottom 248and the casing 246 is supported, the guide base 130 is lowered to thebottom by means of the guide cables 152. As seen in FIGURE 16, the upperend of the last section of conductor casing 246 is provided with a head252 defining a downwardly facing exterior shoulder 254 and coarseinterior threads 256 for forming a releasable connection. Immediatelybelow the head 252 the casing 246 is provided with vertically andradially extending centering guides 258. The casing 246 is then driveninto the bottom 248 in a conventional manner until the shoulder 254rests on top of the sleeve 136 and the support plate 134, the guides 258having engaged the bore of the sleeve 136 during the last few feet oftravel. As the casing 246 is driven, additional sections of casing areadded by means of releasable couplings. After the casing 246 has beendriven, the hole for the first string of casing to be suspended isdrilled in conventional manner from the surface through the releasablyconnected sections and through the casing 246, the former serving as themud riser 247 (FIGURE 14).

When the hole has been completed, the lower end of the mud riser 247 isunscrewed from the threads 256 in the head 252 and is withdrawn to thesurface. The lower end of a string of casing 260, for example a 16 inchO.D. casing, is then attached to the crossheads of the guide structure132 at the surface, and the guide structure 132 is lowered by suitablelowering cables along the guide cables 152 to guide the lower end of thecasing 260 into the conductor casing 246. The telescoping guidestructure 132 is then released from the casing 260 and raised to thesurface.

As the casing 260 is run, a casing head 100 (see FIG- URE 11 and alsoFIGURES 4, 6 and 16) for the next next string of casing is threaded ontothe upper end of the last section of the casing 260. The upper end ofthe casing head 100 is releasably connected to the lower end of a drillpipe 263 by means of a remotely operated coupling 270. The casing head100 and the casing 260 are then lowered by means of the drill pipe 263until the head 100 rests on the head 252, as seen in FIGURE 11. Thelower portion of the casing head 100 is provided with circumferentiallyspaced, radial flutes 266 which communicate with the annulus betweencasings 246 and 260. The upper portion of the casing head 100 has anexternal circumferential groove 268 (FIG- URES l2 and 16) therein forengagement with a clamping element 269 in the coupling 270. Intermediateits ends the head 100 is provided with the inner, downwardly slopingseat 98 (see also FIGURES 3-6) for receiving the hanger for the nextstring of casing, and above the seat 98 there is provided thecircumferential recess 106 for receiving the locking balls 60 associatedwith the nextinstalled hanger.

The remotely controlled coupling 270 and other remotely controlledcouplings 292 and 302 to be referred to later are preferably of thegeneral type disclosed in 7 copending application Serial No. 128,174,Watts et al., filed July 31, 1961. It will be appreciated, however, thatother types of couplings may be used if desired. It will be understoodalso that the various items of control equipment and other wellcompletion equipment referred to herein may be interconnected by meansof couplings of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,766,829 rather thanby means of the flange and bolt connections illustrated schematically inFIGURES 1114.

When the casing head 109 has been landed on the head 252, circulationmay be established down through the casing 260 and up the annulusbetween it and the outer conductor casing 246. The casing 260 is thencemented in place by pumping cement down casing 260 until the returnscome out through the flutes 266.

The coupling 270 is then released by operating its control lines 276from the surface and-is withdrawn by the drill pipe 263. Blowoutpreventers are then assembled at the surface and are connected to thetelescoping guide section 132 for lowering to the casing head 100. Asseen in FIGURE 12, three blowout preventers 278, 280 and 282 areconnected to the top of the coupling 270. The lower blowout preventer278 may be of the'blind ram type and the other two may be of the Hydriltype, but any combination of blowout preventers and/ or master drillingvalves may be used, as known in the art and referred to herein. Theupper preventers 282 and the coupling 270 are connected to thecrossheads 172 and 190, respectively, of the telescoping guide section132. The drill pipe 263 is releasably secured to the top of the upperpreventer 282 by means of a conventional extension nipple 284 and athreaded adapter 286, and the entire assembly is lowered by means of thedrill pipe 263 along the guide cables 152 to a point at which the guidecylinders 154 engage the tops of the fixed guide posts 138. FIGURE 12shows the assembly just before the cylinders 154 engage the posts 138.

The pistons 158which are in the position shown in FIGURE 7 then assumethe load of the blowout tpreventers 2'78, 280 and 282 and the last fewfeet of travel is controlled from the surface by gradually releasinghydraulic fluid from the cylinders 154 through the lines When thepreventer assembly has been connected, the

drill pipe 263, adaptor 286 and nipple 284 are disconnected andwithdrawn. The mud riser 247 with another blowout preventer (not shown),for example, of the.

Regan type, at its lower end are lowered and connected to the upperblowout preventer 282. Conveniently, the preventer at the lower end ofthe mud riser is connected at the water surface to the crossheads 208 ofan auxiliary guide section such as is shown in FIGURE 8 so that theguide cables 152 assure proper alignment of the mud riser assembly withthe upper blowout preventer 282. When connection has been effecteddrilling for the next string of casing is performed through'the mudriser assembly and the blowout preventers 28 2, 280 and 278.

After a hole has been drilled using the drill pipe 263 and conventionalprocedures, the drill pipe 263 is withdrawn and the running of the nextstring of casing 288 is begun :in a conventional manner. Atthe watersurface the tool and hanger assembly of FIGURES 1-6 is con-' nected bymeans of the threads 20 to the top of the last section of the casing 288and to the lower end of a string a of landing casing (not shown) bymeans of the threads 18. The landing casing is then lowered through themud riser 247 until the exterior shoulder 56 on the hanger subassembly14 engages the inner seat 98 on the casing head. The Regan preventer isretrieved by disconnecting 8 1 head 100. Ordinarily centralizers will beused during this step. Preferably, also, a long guide tube will. be

provided just-below the assembly 10 so as to prevent hanging up on sharpshoulders that may be in the mud riser, the blowout preventers or thehead 100. 7

While the casing 288 is suspended from the-drill .pipe by means of thetool and hanger assembly 10 (see FIG URES 16) the load is transmittedfrom the casing 288 through the hanger body 48 across the left handthreads 16 to the inner hanger sleeve 24, 24a. From the hanger sleevethe load is transferred to the body 34 of the tool subassembly 12 bymeans of the complementary shoulders 30, 32 and thence to the landingcasing through the threads 18.

When the landing casing is lowered so as to set the shoulder 56 of thehanger body 48 on the seat 98, the load of the landing casing will betransmitted through the threads 18 to the body 34 of the toolsubassembly 12 and thence through the threads 38 to body portion 36.From body portion 36 the load istransmitted through the teeth 44, 46 tothe hanger'sleeve then through the threads 52 to the hanger body 48 andfinally to the seat'98. p

In this position circulation can be established down through the casing288, up through the annulus between casings 288 and 260, through theflutes 58, past the balls and into the mud riser back to the surface. Ina similar manner the casing 288 is cemented by pumping cement down thelanding casing. As described before, right hand rotation of the bodyportions 34 and 36 of the tool subassembly 12 causes the tool sleeve 24to move upwardly and the hanger sleeve50 to move downwardly as a resultof the torque applied to these parts and as a result of the left handand right hand threads at 16 and 52,. respectively. As will beunderstood the number and pitch of the threads at 16 and 52 willdetermine the relative magnitudes of movements. In the particularconstruction described the following sequence occurs.

Six revolutions raise the tool sleeve 24 to a position at which it nolonger engages the seals 70. Circulation the left hand threads at 16between the tool subassembly 12 and the hanger subassembly 14 so that,if desired, the former may be withdrawn to the surface.

Referring to FIGURE 6 at 18 revolutions the hanger sleeve 59 will havedescended a distance suflicient to force the tip 1160f the ring 114 intoengagement with the balls 60. It is, of course, necessary to lower thelanding casing during this omration in order to maintain the teeth 44,46 in contact.

At 22 revolutions the balls 60 will have been forced through theirchannels 64 into the annular recess 106 in the casing head thus lockingthe hanger body 48 in the latter.

100 immediately above recess 106. Twenty-seven revolutions complete theoperation by engaging the lower edge of the ring 112 with the upper edgeof element '104 which serves as a stop. The landing casing and the toolsubassembly 12 are then withdrawn in preparation for further drilling.

With the particular casing program being described it is desirable toretain the pressure in the next-installed it from the upper preventer282 and stripping it along with the auxiliary guide structure over thedrill pipe 263 by means of the mud riser. The coupling 270 is thenreleased and the blowout preventer assembly which is con- At the sametime the sealing elements 122, will begin to engage a slightly taperedseat in the head 9 nected to the telescoping guide section 132 is raiseda short distance by applying hydraulic pressure to the cylinders 154through the lines 170 from a suitable controlled source at the surface.The drill pipe, which is still connected to the upper preventer 282, isthen raised by the draw works to assume the load and bring the preventerassembly and the telescoping guide section 132 to the surface.

FIGURE 13 illustrates the next stage in the construction of the well. Asseen therein and in FIGURE 16 a casing and tubing head 290, constructedas an integral unit and having an externalcircumferential groove 291 atits lower end has been connected to the upper end of the coupling 270.Another remotely controlled coupling 292 connects the upper end of thehead 290 to the lower end of another blowout preventer assembly. Thelatter includes two Hydril type blowout preventers 294 and 296 of aCameron blowout preventer 398, the upper section of which contains dualrams for two strings of tubing. The upper preventer 294 has beenconnected to the lower end of the drill pipe 263 by means of anotherremotely controlled coupling 302, and the entire preventer assembly hasbeen secured to the telescoping guide section 132 by means of thecrossheads 172 and 190. The drill pipe 263 is then lowered carrying withit the preventer assembly and the guide section 132 which slides alongthe guide cables 152. FIGURE 13 shows guide section 13 about to engagethe posts 138. As before, when the pistons 158 in the cylinders 154engage the upstanding posts 138 the load is transferred to the later andthe remainder of the travel is hydraulically controlled. When thepreventer assembly is properly seated, operation of the lower coupling270 completes the connection. The upper coupling 302 is released and iswithdrawn to the surface by the drill pipe 263.

The coupling 302 is then removed from the drill pipe 263 and, as shownin FIGURE 14, is attached to the lower end of the mud riser 247. Thecrossheads 208 of the auxiliary guide section 202 are secured to thecoupling 302 and the assembly is lowered to the upper preventer 294where connection is made by remote operation of the coupling 302.Drilling is continued through the mud riser 247 and through theequipment installed on the casing 260 until suflicient depth has beenreached to run the next string of casing 304.

The casing 304, for example 7 inch O.D. casing, is run in the samemanner as was the casing 288, that is, with a tool and a hanger 14'(FIGURE 16) like those of FIGURES 1-6. Again, centralizers and a longguide tube are used to protect the hanger subassembly from damage whileit is being lowered into position and to keep the hanger subassemblycentered while it is entering the seating and sealing section of thehead 290. The cementing of the casing 304 is carried out with its hangersubassembly 14 resting on a seat 98 within the head 290, the returnspassing through the flutes at the base of the hanger subassembly. Thehead is also provided with an inner annular recess above the seat forreceiving locking balls 60' which are analogous to the balls 60 in thehead 100. The same procedure is followed for setting and sealing thehanger subassembly as used when setting and sealing the casing 288.

When all of the conventional testing and bottom hole work has beencompleted, the tubing is run. Hydraulically set packers are used and thetubing is run simultaneously. A pack-off assembly may be placed at thetop of the mud riser for partial protection if desired. As seen inFIGURE 14, a tubing hanger subassembly 308 adapted to suspend thestrings of tubing 306 on two internal seats and having an outer parentseat is used. The hanger 308 may be generally of the type disclosed inPatent Nos. 3,052,301 and 3,001,803 modified to the extent of havinglocking balls 60", an actuating ring analogous to the ring '54 and anouter'rotatable sleeve analogous to the sleeve 34, 36. The upper end ofthe rotatable sleeve 10 is provided with axial teeth 310 for engagementwith complementary teeth on a rotatable tool assembly (not shown).

After the hanger 308 has been placed on the tubing 306, two strings oflanding tubing 312 are threaded into the top of the hanger 308 and theassembly is lowered through the mud riser 247 and blowout preventerassembly as seen in FIGURE 14 until the parent seat on the hanger 308engages the complementary seat 98 (FIG- URE 16) in the tubing head 290.Preferably, tubing control valves, such as Otis valves, are included inthe tubing for control after the preventers have been removed. Thelanding tubing 312 is then unscrewed from the hanger 308 and withdrawn.The hanger 308 is then locked in place by lowering a tool subassembly(not shown) through the mud riser by means of the drill pipe 263 androtating the same. The tool subassembly has downwardly extending teeththereon which mesh with the teeth 310 so that rotation of the drill pipeand tool assembly effect rotation of the sleeve of the latter andthereby force the locking "balls into an annular recess in the head 290.The tool is then withdrawn to the surface.

After the tubing 306 has been set the mud riser is released from the topof the blowout preventer assembly and withdrawn. The drill pipe 263 isthen lowered and connected to the top of the preventer assembly. Thecoupling 292 at the lower end of the preventer assembly is released andthe cylinders 154 of the telescopic guide section 132 are pressurized toraise the preventer assembly from the casing head 100. The load is thentransferred to the drill pipe 263 which is hoisted to the surfacecarrying with it the preventer assembly, the guide section 132 and theauxiliary guide section.

Next a Christmas tree 314 with the coupling 292 as the lowermost elementis assembled at the surface and the telescoping guide system 132attached as seen in FIG- URE 16. The Christmas tree assembly 314 is thenlowered along the guide cables 152 by means of the two strings oflanding tubing 312. As before, the load is transmitted to the fixedguide posts 138 when the pistons 158 engage the same and the last fewfeet of travel is hydraulically controlled from the surface. Preferably,

the Christmas tree 314 is so arranged on the crossheads 172 and thatswiveling action may take place between the guide system and the tree.This freedom to rotate will allow the tree to align itself with thehangers when the upper section of the tree engages the parent hanger.When the final contact position is reached the coupling 292 is tightenedto complete the connection. The tubing control valves may then beretrieved with a wire line from the surface passing through one of thestrings of landing tubing 312. A conventional packing operation is thenperformed using the landing tubing 312 to service the well. After thewell has been cleaned the valves 320 on the Christmas tree are closedand the well arranged for production in conventional manner. The returnsfrom the casing 304 are controlled through a side outlet 316 andproduction from the tubing 306 is controlled through outlets 318 in theChristmas tree.

It will be appreciated also that the detailed descriptions of the hangerand tool assembly 10 and the guide system 130, 132 illustrate theprinciples of these devices and that modification may be made theretowithout departing from the scope of the invention. The details of thedescribed procedures and apparatus are not intended to be limitingexcept as they appear in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hanger and tool for use in suspending a string of tubing or casingin a well structure comprising: a hanger body having an axial bore andan exterior tapered surface intermediate its ends for engaging acomplementary surface in the well structure; at least one laterallymovable locking element carried by said hanger body for engagement witha recess within the well structure; first thread means on the upperinner extremity of said hanger body;

second thread means of opposite rotation from said first thread means onthe upper outer extremity of said hanger body; hanger sleeve meansengaging said second thread means and including means engageable withsaid locking element to move the same laterally; a tool body having abore coaxial with the bore of said hanger body; a tool sleeve connectedto said tool body for rotation therewith and for independentlongitudinal movement, the lower end of said tool sleeve threadedlyengaging said first thread means; and complementary tooth and socketmeans on the opposed ends of said hanger sleeve and said tool bodywhereby rotation of said tool body rotates said tool sleeve and saidhanger sleeve and whereby said tool sleeve moves upwardly to disengagefrom said hanger body and said hanger sleeve moves downwardly to actuatesaid locking element.

2. A hanger and tool assembly for use in suspending a string of casingin a well comprising:

a hanger subassembly including an annular hanger body having an exteriordownwardly and inwardly tapered seating surface for engaging acomplementary surface within the well, thread vmeans on the.

inner surfaceof said hangerbody, a laterally movable latch elementcarried by said hanger body above said seating surface, said latchelement being movable between :a retracted position and an extendedposition in which its outer edge projects laterally outwardly of saidseating surface, an annular latch control member threaded onto saidhanger body and movable axially when rotated into and out of engagementwith said latch element, the threads between said hanger body and saidlatch control member and the thread means on the inner surface of saidhanger being of opposite hand;

an annular t-ool subassembly including a first sleeve,

thread means on the lower end of said first sleeve in engagement withsaid thread means on said hanger body whereby said subassemblies may bedisconnected from each other, a second sleeve surrounding said firstsleeve and axially movable with respect thereto, said second sleevehaving a lower end portion adapted when rotated to effect rotation ofsaid latch control member; means associated with said first and secondsleeves for limiting relative axial movement between them to apredetermined amount whereby said first and second sleeves may bewithdrawn upwardly as a unit away from said hanger subassembly aftersaid first sleeve has been rotated in a direction to disconnect saidinner sleeve from said hanger body.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said first and sec-.

ond sleeves of said tool subassembly are carried on the lower end of anannular body, said annular body including means disposed above saidsleeves for rigidly connecting said annular body to the lower end of arunningin pipe, said inner sleeve being rotatable with and axiallymovable relative to said annular body, and said outer sleeve being fixedrelative to said annular body.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said annular latch control member hasa lower end portion engageable with said latch element and wherein saidcontrol member carries a circumferential sealing element at a locationabove and radially outwardly of said lower end portion.

5. A well head assembly comprising: a tubular supporting head having aninternal upwardly facing seat free of said head to a latching positionwithin said,

recess in said head;

a movable, circumferential sealing element carried by said hanger, saidsealing element being movable from a firstposition free of said head toa sealing position in sealing engagement with said annular surface insaid head;

means defining at least one vertical passage connecting said upper andlower annular spaces; and

means for suspending said hanger from the lower end of a running-in pipeand for elfecting latching movement of said latch member and sealingmovement of said sealing clement after said hanger shoulder has beenlowered into engagement with said seat, said means includingan annulartool device concentric with said hanger, said tool device includingconnecting means for connecting said tool device to the lower end of arunning-in pipe, thread means disposed below said first connecting meansand engaged with the complementary threads on said hanger, and anactuating element operable upon rotation of said tool device in adirection to disconnect the latter from said hanger for moving saidlatch member and said sealing element into their latching and sealingpositions.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said tool device includes an annularbody, an inner sleeve carried by said body and an outer sleeve carriedby said body, said outer sleeve being fixed with respect to said annularbody and having a lower end portion defining said actuating element,said inner sleeve being rotatable with and axially movable relative tosaid annular body and having a circumferential portion defining saidthread means whereby rotation of said body in a direction to disconnectsaid thread means from said hanger causes said inner sleeve to moveupwardly relative to said hanger, said inner sleeve having a secondcircumferential portion which seals against said body in one axialposition of said inner sleeve and defines a passage between said bodyand said inner sleeve in a higher axial position of the latter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES E.OCONNELL, Primary Examiner. C. D. JOHNSON, I. A. LEPPINK, AssistantExaminers.

1. A HANGER AND TOOL FOR USE IN SUSPENDING A STRING OF TUBING OR CASINGIN A WELL STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A HANGER BODY HAVING AN AXIAL BORE ANDAN EXTERIOR TAPERED SURFACE INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS FOR ENGAGING ACOMPLEMENTARY SURFACE IN THE WELL STRUCTURE; AT LEAST ONE LATERALLYMOVABLE LOCKING ELEMENT CARRIED BY SAID HANGER BODY FOR ENGAGEMENT WITHA RECESS WITHIN THE WELL STRUCTURE; FIRST THREAD MEANS ON THE UPPERINNER EXTREMITY OF SAID HANGER BODY; SECOND THREAD MEANS OF OPPOSITEROTATION FROM SAID FIRST THREAD MEANS ON THE UPPER OUTER EXTREMITY OFSAID HANGER BODY; HANGER SLEEVE MEANS ENGAGING SAID SECOND THREAD MEANSAND INCLUDING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LOCKING ELEMENT TO MOVE THESAME LATERALLY; A TOOL BODY HAVING A BORE COAXIAL WITH THE BORE OF SAIDHANGER BODY; A TOOL SLEEVE CONNECTED TO SAID TOOL BODY FOR ROTATIONTHEREWITH AND FOR INDEPENDENT LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT, THE LOWER END OFSAID TOOL SLEEVE THREADEDLY ENGAGING SAID FIRST THREAD MEANS; ANDCOMPLEMENTARY TOOTH AND SOCKET